The Watersports Centre

At Centara Grand a whole host of incredible experiences await you, from relaxing pastimes such as snorkelling and cruising the lagoon on a pedal to adrenalin fired activities such as wake boarding and parasailing. We are fully equipped with everything you need for a truly splashing time: kneeboards, wakeboards, jet skis, seabobs, banana boats, fun tubes and more. The highly experienced and EFR-trained Centara Grand Watersports Centre team are available for tuition and advice about which activity would suit you best.

Snorkel Lessons

A trip to the Maldives isn’t complete without taking a peek beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean – a truly amazing sight awaits those who give snorkelling a try. If you’ve never been snorkelling before or perhaps you tried snorkelling once or twice before but are a little nervous. We have the solution – join one of our snorkelling sessions with a trained and experienced member of the watersports team. We can teach you the best techniques for safe and competent snorkelling. All you need to bring is your swimwear and your enthusiasm; we’ll do the rest.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a classic amongst watersports and has been a popular choice for decades. Standing on a large board, the aim is to keep hold of the attached sail and catch the wind in it, this then powers you across the lagoon. All you need is a little strength and balance and off you go! Feel the wind catch in your sail as you’re propelled across the azure waters. Windsurfing is suitable for people of all abilities and our watersports staff are on hand to give beginners lessons so you can master the basics before you set off. We have a range of boards and sails for you to choose from.

Kitesurfing

There is no feeling quite like rocketing through the air, up to 30m above the ocean, using the power of the wind. Kite surfing is one of the most popular and fun watersports available. Having strong arms is a definite advantage because of the force of the wind involved, your feet are strapped onto a small board while your hands are left free to hold onto a harness. Attached to the harness is a power kite and once you’ve caught the wind in it, you can propel yourself across the water on the board. Our kitesurfing course is aimed at beginners and will teach you everything you need to know including kite control, safety, how to assess a site and how to set up your kite.

Catamaran

If you ever dreamed of learning to sail, the turquoise waters of the Maldives is the perfect place to do it. A catamaran is the ideal non-motorised vessel to start learning with. It’s a small, light vessel consisting of two parallel hulls which keep it stable. When you catch the wind in the sail it moves the catamaran across the water. The Water Sports Centre staff at Centara Grand can show you how to handle the lines and tiller on the catamaran, give you a proper sailing lesson and help you to refine your sailing skills.

Parasailing

Get a bird’s eye view of the Maldives – from the air you can really appreciate all the different hues of turquoise in the ocean, the emerald green tropical interior of the islands and the white sandy beaches. Once securely strapped into a parachute and attached to the back of a speedboat, it accelerates and you gently glide up into the air behind it as the parachute catches the wind. As you rise into the air, you can admire the stunning panoramas that unfold before safely touching back down again. Despite the high speeds involved, you hardly feel the force of the wind as you float high in the sky behind the boat.

Water Ski

Water-skiing is one of the most popular watersports around, and has been for decades. The Maldives is the ideal place to do it as our calm lagoons around Centara Grand provide the perfect place for both beginners and experienced water skiers. Water-skiing involves holding onto a towrope whilst wearing special skis. You can cut through the waves and zoom across the tranquil water, giving you an unparalleled sense of exhilaration and freedom. The challenge is to keep standing up but once you’ve mastered this skill there are all kinds of tricks to learn, which keeps things even more exciting.

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is very popular and is the fastest-growing watersport of all time. Holding a harness and standing on a wakeboard you’re towed by speedboat across the wake and the waves. The wakeboard is like a small surfboard with boots attached to it. If you’ve surfed or snowboarded before, some of the skills you learned will be useful when learning to wakeboard. Our watersports staff are on hand to give you lessons if you’ve never tried before. Experienced wakeboarders learn how to jump across their own wake, turn in the air and do other tricks.

Kneeboarding

Not keen on standing? Perhaps you should give kneeboarding a go! Our speedboat will pull you across the lagoon as you kneel on a board, close to the surface of the water. You’re strapped to the board so it’s impossible to fall off although the main challenge is mastering your balance. As you get more experienced you can learn how to jump the wake, turn, jump and slide. The watersports team can show you the basics to get started and soon you’ll be ready to experience the thrill of being towed at speed as the sea-spray splashes in your face. Fasten your straps and get ready for an exhilarating ride!

Fun Toys

Why not try our ‘no skill required’ watersport activity? Bouncing across the waves on an inflatable fun tube is a really fun way to spend some time on the water. Sit back, hold on tight and get ready for the speedboat to pull you along – sliding and bouncing across the sparkling ocean. Smiles all round are guaranteed.

Banana Boat

For fun and frolics on the water with family or friends, a banana boat ride will be hard to beat. Banana boats are large inflatable cylinders which are big enough for several people to sit on at one time. Straddle the banana boat and hold on tight while the speedboat pulls it over the surface of the lagoon, feel the refreshing sea spray splash in your face in the sunshine as you zoom along. The best part is falling in and thrill seekers will love it!

Pedalos & Kayak

Explore the beautiful waters around Centara Grand by taking advantage of the kayaks and pedalos which are available for your use. Our kayaks are like a larger version of a canoe and are propelled using a double-bladed paddle. Our pedalos are small craft propelled by two sets of pedals. You sit side-by-side and use your feet to move the pedals. You’ll find it both relaxing and rewarding; gently paddle as you drink in the sublime surroundings or up the pace to give your muscles a mini work out. The calm waters are the ideal place to try even if you’ve never used a kayak or pedalo before. Our pedalos and kayaks are available on a first-come-first-served basis so please do pop in to make sure you don’t miss out on the enjoyment.